How Do You Light Small Spaces?

One of the questions that I am frequently asked is "how do you handle lighting in small spaces?" Well, I would love to give you a simple answer, but each is as unique as each person. There are a lot of questions to ASK before we can ANSWER. For instance, what is the function of the space? Will you need to read in there? How about relax? Will you need to do different things at different times? Will you have plants in the room? Office space? Will this be a make up room? Well, you get the idea.

For the best answer, go to a Lighting Specialist at your local lighting showroom. They will be able to properly assess your needs. For a general answer, let me offer these suggestions for you:

Powder Room - In this room, you can generally go with lights beside or over your vanity and/or an overhead light. If you plan to apply make-up regularly, the side lighting will reduce the shadows.

Full Bathroom - This room will need more light. Aside from the side lighting at the vanity mirror, you will want to have light for your shower/bath area. If it is in a stand-alone shower, be sure it is rated for this area due to the moisture. Additionally, a commode that is separated into its own little room will need lighting, preferably overhead, with the possible addition of decorative wall sconces.

Reading Nook - This area will need brighter bulbs with higher wattages. Aside from your normal overhead lighting, you will want some bright lighting that will illuminate on your reading area. Wall sconces can do this, or torchiere/floor lamps.

Adding lighting throughout a smaller home or apartment can make an otherwise cramped location seem more open and cheery. Wall sconces, recessed lighting, and other accent lighting is perfect for this as they do not take up valuable floor space. Ever go into a model home and notice how bright and large it seems compared to others? The trick that many realtors use is to keep all of the lights on even during the day!

So what are YOUR questions about lighting? Drop us a line/comment and we will be happy to provide an answer!

Until next time, this is LightingGal from Lighting One, reminding you to ask the Lighting Experts at a Lighting One showroom or other specialty retailer to get the most out of your home. Think it is more expensive? Think again! Check us out to see. http://www.lighting-one.com/ to find your closest retailer.

Upcoming Home Lighting Trends Seen at Market

In order to stay “in the know” and ahead of the trends, Lighting One attends Lighting Markets to see what is new in the upcoming marketplace. While visiting numerous showrooms at the recent International Lighting Market in Dallas, Texas, it was apparent that there were a few reoccurring trends. In order to help keep YOU in the know as well, we thought we would share a few of our findings.

The focus appeared to be on lighter colors and softer metals. Polished Nickel also stood out among the sea of fixtures. The incorporation of shades in both fabric and metal was observes in a majority of showrooms. Fixtures accented with crystal, along with colored and clear beads were very popular.

Spheres and globes, and more non-traditional shapes were also apparent.

LED Lighting continues to be the hot topic and many suppliers presented limited introductions due to the rapidly changing technology, although suppliers like Satco, one of Lighting One’s preferred partners, introduced a very large assortment of LED bulbs.

Basic entry level price points in both the traditional and contemporary categories were evident to help consumers find better values without being driven to Home Centers for their lighting needs.

Promotional products such as Tiffany lamps at Quoizel, another Lighting One preferred partner, were also featured.

So, to stay ahead of the trends and be in the know, be sure your lighting needs are fulfilled with lighting experts at any of our family-owned lighting showrooms throughout the country. To find the nearest location to you, visit www.lighting-one.com.

The image shown is Lighting One’s #30312-PW two light sconce with crystal drops, as an example of the crystal beading and metallic finishes that are very popular.

Spruce up Your Home for the Holidays!

You have your family coming in for the holidays and you would LOVE to redo your entire home before-hand... but who can afford it these days? Well, there are a few things that you can do to give your home a whole new look without having to take a second mortgage!

Placing a few new lamps around the house can provide a fresh look for your home, while providing much needed lighting for reading, homework, or projects. This additional splash of light will also brighten your home and make it feel more inviting. OR use these new lamps and turn off the overhead lights for an intimate ambiance.

Strategically placed under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen will not only provide better lighting for your workspace, but also provide your kitchen with an updated look, accent your beautiful counters, and add another layer of invitation to your already welcoming kitchen.

While we are in the kitchen, let's take a look at the lighting over your island. Placing a few art-glass mini-pendants over your island will give your entire kitchen a lift and a modern look. Or install an island light for a dual purpose fixture, that will also allow you to showcase your cookware and keep it in a handy place.

Replacing your dining room chandelier can instantly dress up your dining room. Find one that complements your style, whether traditional, modern, casual, elegant, or even eclectic. Add a few sconces on the wall to complement the chandelier, add another layer of lighting, and provide further decoration for the room.

Let's not forget the bathrooms! Sconces to either side of your vanity mirror will not only provide a high-end look for your bathroom, but your make up will thank you as you will see a more natural look with no harsh shadows. Adding a crystal mini-chandelier in your bathroom is a trendy new way to create an elegant up-lift or to enhance your shabby chic feeling.

While you are redecorating, add a few lamps in your bedrooms - reading lamps for homework spaces, torchieres for seating areas, swing arm lamps above the bed for reading, or table lamps for the side tables.

Think ceiling fans are only for the summer? Not so! Ceiling fans can be used all year around. Simply reverse the airflow and your ceiling fan will circulate the heat throughout the room and keep your room from feeling too stuffy. Not only will it help your energy savings (by better distributing the air) but also, if you buy one this time of year, chances are pretty good you can find them on sale!

So, don't spend a fortune redecorating your home. Pick a few of these tips (or even all of them) and you will find yourself with a drastic change in your home for much less than remodeling!

For more design tips, contact your local lighting design specialist. To find a showroom near you, visit www.lighting-one.com.

The product shown in the picture is 0411-RD and is available at participating Lighting One showrooms.

Ambient Lighting for Your Home Decor

Ambient lighting is a term used to describe the total amount of light that is present in a space. We can say that a room has high or low levels of ambient lighting.

How much lighting is needed or desired is often a very personal preference. In places such as kitchens and bathrooms, it is often good practice to provide multiple types of lighting that can provide high levels of ambient lighting for some tasks, and low levels of ambient lighting for other activities.

Places such as laundry rooms and closets are best illuminated with high levels of ambient lighting, although they also should be provided with dimming controls that allow the high ambient level to be reduced when desired. In spaces such as family rooms and bedrooms it is best to provide ambient lighting primarily from portable lamps and wall mounted lighting such as wall sconces.

Ambient lighting can also be provided by placing surface mounted fixtures at the ceiling. A recent trend is the use of decorative chandeliers in almost any space in the home. A chandelier is highly useful for providing high ambient lighting when necessary, or it can be dimmed to provide a very soft and low level of ambient lighting.

The pendants shown in the photo are from the Effervescent collection. For more information, please visit www.lighting-one.com to locate a Lighting One showroom near you. Showrooms are independently owned and operated, so product may vary from location to location.

Lighting for Your Bathroom and Vanity

Bath and vanity lights provide task and general lighting. Vanity lighting comes in a variety of styles and offer different numbers of lighting units. These fixtures usually use incandescent bulbs to provide task lighting for applying makeup, shaving, and grooming, but they also provide good general lighting for the entire room.

Note: To reduce shadows, the best lighting for your bathroom mirror is a combination of light both above and on either side of the mirror. The second choice would be to have lighting only on each side of the mirror (as shown here). The third option, but still a good option, is to have lighting only above the mirror.

The product shown is 1061-AP, available at Lighting One showrooms. To locate the showroom nearest you, please visit www.lighting-one.com. For more Lighting One design tips, please be certain to subscribe to the blog.

Sconces: A Home’s Secret Weapon

Perhaps more than any other type of interior lighting, the wall sconce is the most underrated and underutilized. Almost magical in the way it can transform boring areas into interesting and inviting spaces, the wall sconce should be prevalent in every house that wants to feel like a home.

Whenever possible, use wall sconces in hallways to get a warm, comfortable feeling that will draw you further into the hall and help lead you to whatever room or rooms lie ahead. You can’t get that result using standard recessed cans or simple flush mount fixtures to light the area. Wall sconces can create a nice glow that gives a sense of softness to halls and makes them an added feature in a home rather than an area to avoid. Typically, wall sconces should be mounted at 68” to 72” from the floor.

Large sun-filled great rooms are wonderful during the day, but tend to feel like big, scary, dark caverns at night. Sconces mounted around the perimeter of the room will make the room seem smaller and more intimate.

In lower levels, sconces will dress up the area so that it doesn’t feel like a “basement” and the low-level light from dimmed sconces will give the impression of warmth in an area that often feels cool.

Stairways are another great place for sconces. Many styles can act as a focal point in this area, hanging on the wall like a functional piece of art. A wall sconce also allows for easier maintenance. Reaching and changing the light bulb in a sconce is much easier than in a ceiling fixture or a recessed light that would usually require a ladder in a stairway.

Finally, rather than just another coach light on the outside of your home, outdoor-rated sconces can really make that back deck feel like an extension of your indoor living space.

By making large rooms feel cozier and making small spaces seem special; the power of wall sconces to transform any area to something more desirable should not be underestimated.

Article written by Mark Hansen, Lighting Design Expert at The Ar-Jay Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. To locate the closest Lighting One showroom, visit www.lighting-one.com. Sconce shown in photo is 8820-CC from the Knight's Bridge Collection, available at Lighting One showrooms.